RAPD assessment of genetic variations in 33 varieties of banana (Musa nana Lour.) was carried out. Eighteen primers were screened from 249 10 bp arbitrary primers, and a total of 192 DNA bands were amplified, among which 183 (95.31%) were polymorphic. The average number of DNA bands amplified by each primer was 10.67, and the average genetic distance among 33 varieties was 0.3412. Based on UPGMA cluster analysis of 192 DNA bands amplified by 18 primers a DNA molecular dendrogram was established for 33 varieties of banana in China, which divided the 33 varieties into four groups: group A, B, C and D. Group A included 20 varieties, group B included 5 varieties, group C included 2 varieties and group D included 6 varieties. Group A could be divided into 3 sub-groups: A1, A2 and A3. The molecular foundation of genetic diversity of banana was also explored.
